Sci-Fi Film Fiesta, The Swingin' 60s - The Complete Book by Chris Christopoulos - HTML preview

Points Of Interest

 

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Night Of The Big Heat was adapted from a science fiction novel by John Lymington. The novel had also been adapted for British television by ITV in 1960.

Filming took place at Pinewood Studios and on location in Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire. The exteriors for the inn where the action takes place were filmed at The Swan Inn in Milton Keynes Village. The opening shots of the island's meteorological station are of the transmitter station at Portland Bill, Dorset.

The film has a very impressive cast that includes, Patrick Allen, Sarah Lawson (both married in real life), Jane Merrow and of course, Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing.

The film’s director, Terence Fisher made three films for Planet Film Productions of which Night Of The Big Heat was the last. Fisher made many fine films for Hammer productions including various Dracula & Frankenstein horror films, The Gorgon, The Mummy and Island of Terror.

Instead of relying on the use of special effects to provide its impetus, Night Of The Big Heat is very much a character-driven film. It focuses more on ordinary people who find themselves in an extra-ordinary situation where they are isolated and cut off from the rest of civilisation. Within the claustrophobic setting of the inn, they are forced to confront and make decisions about the danger that’s facing them in the form of an alien invasion. The characters are also forced to confront certain truths about themselves and each other particularly in relation to the accompanying love triangle.

As the temperature rises and the sweat pours forth from every pore, many of the characters begin to lose control of their minds and emotions and succumb to irrationality, anger and lust. On that basis, the characters are really just like anyone of us: flawed human beings who under certain stressful circumstances may act heroically and unselfishly but who may also have the capacity to behave in very inhumane and abominable ways. All this despite our fabricated public personas and manufactured social media autobiographical presentations.

Take for instance the characters involved in the love triangle subplot. I’m afraid that Jeff comes across as a rather snivelling cad and bounder who seems to want to have his cake and eat it too without the consequences. Jeff doesn’t deserve either woman (especially his wife) both of whom could easily do far better. As for Angela, she does come across as a home-breaking little floozy who would have done better by putting it straight to Jeff that if he is at all serious about her he should tell his wife and leave the relationship before she will have anything further to do with him. Frankie, however should have just told Jeff to bugger off and take his little bitch with him. Under similar circumstances, how would any of us behave? Who knows?

The time of year that the film was shot was not exactly conducive to generating streams of perspiration from the actors, so director Fisher had them smear glycerine on themselves to create the sweaty effect along with them having to wear damp shirts. Why Peter Cushing's character kept his jacket on in such temperatures, I’ll never know. None of the men even bothered to put on a pair of shorts. Even I’d be tempted to wander about in my Hawaiian shirt and budgie smugglers! Perhaps not….

It is also a wonder that so much booze is being consumed during such hot and humid conditions. After all, alcohol would tend to exacerbate the dehydration process. Lots of water would be a far better option.

OK, we know about the less than impressive appearance of the aliens, but what can we expect considering the film’s budget? At least it was a good choice to create a sense of atmosphere by not allowing the viewers to see what the aliens actually look like until the end. Instead, there was a reliance on what is not seen and what is implied by focusing on the characters’ reactions to what they are confronted with together with the impressive sound effects and music to heighten the tension. Unfortunately, the final rushed climax along with the appearance of the aliens tended to be somewhat disappointing considering the build-up throughout the film.

John Lymington’s novel is set on an unidentified British island during an unnatural and unprecedented global heatwave. There is speculation that it might be due to the atomic bomb tests that have been taking place but no-one knows for sure. During the 1950s and 1960s Cold War period there were a lot of atmospheric and underground atomic bomb tests undertaken as part of an insane arms race.

Novelist and White Lion inn owner, Richard Callum meets secretary Patricia Wells who has arrived to help him edit his book. Almost straight away the two are attracted to each other, but there is one little problem - Richard is married to Frankie.

The inn is a focal point for many of the locals. One of them, an airman from the local radar station, informs Richard that a strange radio signal is being beamed downwards onto the island. A stranger staying at the inn named Harsen keeps to himself and seems to be engaged in secretive activities in his rented room.

A story emerges that local, Bob Franker claimed to have recently seen a flying saucer along with creatures resembling spiders that emerged from it. Suspecting that something extraordinary is going on, Richard, Patricia and Frankie contact Vernon Stone, a local science fiction author to seek his assistance.

A conclusion is arrived at that suggests that aliens are beaming themselves to Earth for an invasion, in much the same way as messages are beamed by radio from one place to another. There is initial speculation by the locals that aliens are attacking Earth with a heat ray. When it is instead thought that they are being beamed to the island, it is believed that this could be a reason for the heat as well and that the aliens themselves are extremely hot due to the radiation generated by the transfer process.

It is later conjectured that the aliens have sent less evolved creatures in advance of an invasion in much the same manner as humans have sent monkeys up into space to determine if it is safe. If the advance party of creatures survive in Earth’s climate, then the intelligent aliens can follow to complete their conquest of earth. The nature of this alien species is speculated on and it is suggested that they may be similar to insects with similar evolutionary advantages.

The author never really provides us with a clear description of the creatures, instead giving the reader a sense of them via second-hand accounts and indistinct nocturnal glimpses of them. What is unseen can be far scarier and menacing than what is seen!

It is an interesting concept to have an alien invasion employ a form of terra-forming a planet so as to make conditions untenable for the original inhabitants while making it suitable for the would-be conquerors. A far more efficient process than blundering in on ships and indiscriminately blasting away at people and infrastructure. It would not an easy prospect to try and subdue an entire planet of 8 or so billion irate and desperate inhabitants.

With recent record-breaking summer time heat waves having assailed the northern hemisphere throughout southern Europe, China, parts of Asia, north America and Australia, the reader might feel some empathy toward the characters in the film considering what real flesh and blood people have and are enduringin the real world.

The dreadful conditions in our own time, however are not due to the evil machinations of fictional alien entities, but are rather a result of a combination of factors involving the process of climate change, human exacerbation of a warming climate by the addition of C02 & methane emissions as well as a shift into El Nino weather patterns. Like the characters in the film and the book, the final outcome will depend on how we respond to the challengers posed by the new changed conditions and circumstances we find ourselves confronted with.

 

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The Green Slime (1968)

 

A fun-filled, amateurish, juvenile but colourful sci-fi horror mixing astronauts, space

monsters, laser guns and he-man rivalry.

 

Directed by Kinji Fukasaku

Screenplay by William Finger, Tom Rowe, Charles Sinclair Story by Ivan Reiner

Produced by Walter Manley, Ivan Reineri

Cinematography: Yoshikazu Yamasawa

Edited by Osamu Tanaka

Music by Toshiaki Tsushima

Production companies: Toei Ram Films, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributed by Toei Company (Japan), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (United States) Running time: 90 minutes

 

Cast

Robert Horton as Commander Jack Rankin Richard Jaeckel as Commander Vince Elliott

Luciana Paluzzi as Dr. Lisa Benson

Bud Widom as General Jonathan B. Thompson

Ted Gunther as Dr. Hans Halversen

Robert Dunham as Captain Martin

David Yorston as Lieutenant Curtis

William Ross as Ferguson

Gary Randolf as Cordier[1]

Japanese dub

Gorō Naya as Jack Rankin

Ichirō Murakoshi as Vince Elliott

Haruko Kitahama as Lisa Benson

Kōsei Tomita as Johnathon B. Thompson

 

A giant asteroid heads toward Earth.

A group of astronauts from a space station on a mission to blow it up.

The mission succeeds.

BUT!!!!

A strange slimy green substance is unknowingly brought back by the

astronauts.

The alien substance mutates into one-eyed tentacled monsters that

feed off electricity.

The station is soon infested with these alien life forms.

How will this new threat be dealt with?

Can these alien monsters be stopped before they kill all the humans on

the station and go on to threaten humanity on earth itself?

 

“Nothing exciting ever happens around here.”

The routine at the United Nations Space Command is rudely disrupted by the shocking discovery of an asteroid named ‘Flora’ that is on a direct collision course with Earth. What’s more is that only ten hours remain to destroy the rogue asteroid before it results in an extinction level event on Earth. General Thompson decides that “the only answer is to blast that thing out of the sky” and so a mission must be quickly set up to accomplish just that.

General Thompson realizes that there is nothing for it but to call on the services of the one man capable of leading the mission to avert the threat to earth posed by the oncoming space rock of doom – and that man is none other than Commander Jack Rankin!

“I'd have absolute confidence in him no matter what we're faced with”

Despite the general’s confidence in Rankin there is the problem over the fact that the commander had resigned from Space Command and therefore can’t be ordered to go on the mission. He will have to volunteer. Also with so little time remaining there may not be sufficient time to escape the blast zone once the explosives have been planted on the asteroid. How can anyone be sent “on a mission where the chances of survival are zero?”

Ah! But few people really know the kind of stuff Rankin is made of as we see him alone in the general’s private office admiring a photo of himself together with another man named Vince Elliot. No doubt he’s reminiscing about the “best space team” ever which naturally he was a part of. Still, there’s a bit of a sour feeling over their partnership which he somehow feels responsible for.

Anyway it’s soon down to business as the general explains the situation to Rankin:

• An asteroid moving towards earth.

• “Close to six million tons of rock.”

• Set to collide with earth at 7 o'clock the next morning.

• The “only one solution” being to blow the asteroid to dust

In answer to the question, “who's in command of the mission?” Why, who else but Rankin? He is the man with the “necessary experience,” not to mention the chiselled jaw, the road map face denoting the mileage already traversed throughout his career and the hair-style that can withstand any number of g-forces. I bet he wishes there was a mirror in that office just so he can admire himself.

Of course he is the one to be “in full operational charge of gamma 3” space station which is presently commanded by….Vince Elliot. Yes, Vince Elliot. Rankin, this is sure your lucky day……

 

“Since that's the way it is, let's be sure that's the way it is”

Can there be room for two alpha male giant egos on one little space station? Elliot5 will need to swallow his pride and accept that Rankin is on the station tgo “take over” his command. However, one cannot ignore the undertone of resentment in his remark that Rankin was chosen as being the best man for assuming command and that “he'll get the job done, alright with no ifs, ands, or buts. in spite of anything or anybody.”

Added to the slight to Elliot’s pride and the tension between two former friends, there is the complication involvin Elliot being engaged to Rankin’s ex-girlfriend, Lisa Benson who is a doctor on Gamma 3. Despite her assurances to him that he has no reason to be jealous of Rankin and that he doesn’t mean anything to her anymore, her demeanor and fluttering false eyelashes seem to indicate otherwise perhaps.

With 20 mminutes to go until departure from the station, Elliot convinces Rankin to to have him included as part of the mission team. Is Rankin really all that glad to have Elliot included or is this all a part of their unstated rivalry and competitrion? It’s big of Elliot to seem to have buried the hatchet and ask to joing Rankin’s team. It’s also big of Rankin to appear to be doing the same by accepting Elliots request. I guess either wishes to appear to be an ass hole.

By the way. Guess who has come to see the crew off as they board the shuttle? None other than Lisa despite her assurances that she wouldn’t do so. Is it for the man she’s engaged to who is full of insecurities and weighed down by guilt? Or is it for the man awash with self confidence, a sense of his own worth and in possession of a giant ego and for whom she still has feelings?

“Are there any questions, gentlemen? Take her in”

Aboard the spaceship on the way to Flora, Rankin curtly and brusquely issues directives left, rigbht and centre just to let everyone (including Elliot) know who is in charge.

Afer landing on Flora and undertaking the mission to lay the required edxplosives, it transpires that time is now the enemy. Flora is now accelerating and at the current timed of 2.40 “detonation time has to be moved up to 3 o'clock.” All the equipment has to be abandoned and with the time change there may not bed sufficient time for the team to escape the blast effects of Flora’s destruction.

Dr Halvorsen has not yet returned and despite Elliot’s plea to Rankin not to leave him there, it seems that is just what the commander is prepared to do. Harsh? Yes, but that is the price of command whereby decisions might have to ne made to issue the order that could result in someone’s death if it means the survival of the others under the leader’s command. This scene also gives us a clue as to a possible past event involving Elliot who may have placed those under his command in jeopardy by trying to save the life of a single member of his team. This fact Rankin callously throws in Elliot’s face ion front of the others. Bastard!

Dr. Halvorsen eventually shows up bearing a canister containing of a slimy green substance. Rankin orders him to “get rid of it” despite the fact that it may prove to be a “major discovery” being the first ever proof of extra-terrestrial life! And what does the illustrious leader Rankin do? He snatches the specimen container out of Halvorsen’s hands and smashes it on the ground. The alien specimen that was safely contained in a glass container is smashed to smithereens resulting in a porftion of the slime attaching itself to one of the astronaut’s suits. We have seen what the slime does when it attaches itself to the various pieces of equipment used by the team. We can readily guess the likely consequences of Rankin’s impetuous command decision and they probably wont be good!

The crew finally make it off the surface of Flora, but with only 3 minutes unti detonation there appears to be little chance of them outrunning the blast. With their ship straining under more than 10-g’s, Rankin orders an increase of speed and then follows this up by single-handedly defying the crushing g-forces to get the ship back on track thereby proving to everyone that he’s better than Batman. His hair-style remains intact but I fear that some of his plastic surgery work may need some re-doing when he returns to Earth. Is there nothing this man can’t do? Obviously not. With force shield activated, the crew make it back safely to Gamma 3…...along with a possible stowaway perhaps?…….

“I get an order, I carry it out. I give one, I expect the same, right down

the line.”

The energy from decontamination causes the green slime to evolve and grow and in the middle of the celebration an alarm goes off indicating trouble in the decontamination chamber. An officer opening the door is quickly killed by an unknown assailant.

When they get back to Gamma 3 Rankin orders that all equipment be run through the decontamination procedure three times despite Elliot grousing that his men don’t have time to run such an unnecessary number of decontamination.

The successful return to Gamma 3 is greeted by applause and whoops of elation, and isn’t our hero Rankin in his element as he acknowledges the “welcoming committee” and declares that the “ job isn’t over yet.” This is followed by a verbal rebuke for Dr Halvorsen whom he holds “responsible for the decontamination of material and personnel used on the mission.” Someone please remind Rankin that it was his rash action that will lead to what happens a bit later!

Being now on an autocratic and pugnacious roll, Rankin flexes his command muscles by ordering the running the decontamination procedures three times despite the difficulty of sparing equipment for the length of time it would take and the other tasks the station personnel have to perform. Just in case Elliot doesn’t concur with his decision, Rnkin once again rebukes and embarrass him in front of the other personnel by reminding him that the command reverts to Elliot “when the mission is completed” and Rankin leaves. He further belittles the station commander by suggesting that he “bone up” on his regulations. Not exactly a very professional approach to engage in personal rivalry in the presence of subordinates who depend on the judgement of and cooperation between their commanding officers.

Speaking of personal rivalry, the one between Elliot and Rankin is fleshed out when Lisa dresses Rankin’s arm wound. There’s the matters of his ego and uncompromising attitude. He almost considers it a personal slight against him that Lisa dropped him and got engaged to his best friend. Even when Lisa tells Rankin that whatever they had between them is finished, he is conceited enough to retort with, “I wonder.” Isn’t he familiar with the notion of just moving on with his life?

Rankin’s lack of empathy and understanding of other people’s needs which is also an important element of command is evident in his attitude toward leadership as he comments on his role as a commanding officer whereby when he gets an order he carries it out and when he gives one, he expects the same. That’s fair enough up to a point but as Lisa observes, “there's no margin to let other people be wrong, to fail sometimes.”

Later while the celebrations continue, (amid a really stupid dance that reminds me of a similar dance in the sci-fi movie Ikarie ) the members of the little love triangle are having drinks where the competition between Rankin and Elliot continues with Lisa of course being the subject of their rivalry. Within a cloud of innuendo surrounding their table, Elliot meaningfully informs Rankin that “the old man” will be glad to hear that Lisa and he will be married the next week. Rankin then oh, so sincerely wishes Lisa “every happiness” and then follows this up by asking if can dance with “your fiance.” Elliot is then left with an alcoholic beverage for company while his rival sashays away with his fiance on the dance floor. Question: Why didn’t Lisa throw a drink in each of the faces of these two juveniles and walk off?

On the dance floor, we discover a bit more detail surrounding the event that soured the friendship between Elliot and Rankin. It seems that Rankin reported Elliot which led to hum having to face an enquiry. His crime in Rankin’s eyes was to have sacrificed 10 men in order to save one which he characterises as being a “pretty stupid mistake.” What Rankin doesn’t see whenever he continues to rub Elliot’s nose in this fact is how the whole incident has “almost destroyed him” and how “it's killing him.” Rather than acknowledge this Rankin side-steps to the other element of the rivalry between himself and Elliot by stating point blank to Lisa, “you're making a big mistake” and that instead of loving Elliot, she instead pities him. In reply, all Lisa can offer is that she is “very happy with him.” Well, often in a relationship that’s all you can ask for initially but to the man with the “incredible ego” it’s an indication that she loves him. Perhaps, but sometimes that is just not enough in a meaningful relationship. How will Elliot and Lisa find out if Rankin keeps blundering about like a wrecking ball?

Suddenly the joyful ambiance of the celebrations is shattered by alert of trouble in the lab decontamination area. When the senior officers arrive to investigate, they discover a crew member has been electrocuted to death. They also discover in the room the same substance that was found on the asteroid. Rankin cannot resist at having another dig at Dr Halvorsen by telling him that it is his responsibility.

Soon after at C Block Power Terminal, another crew member is found dead due to electrocution. The action then moves to the main power room where “something strange” has been discovered. The less said about the tentacled one-eyed alien the better! When thoughts turn to the use of laser guns, the good Dr Halvorsen wants this “magnificent discovery” captured alive.

What folls is yet another opportunity for the rivalry between Elliot and Rankin to play out. Rankin is all for getting rid of the creature that has already killed two men but Elliot “as commander of this station” decrees that they ought to try and capture it for which he swill take full responsibility. Surprisingly Rankin magnanimously agrees to let Elliot do it his way to which Elliot sarcastically replies “thank you very much.”

Elliot then employs sound command skills by asking for advice from one of his expert personnel, Dr Halvorsen who suggests paralysing the creature using gas guns and a net. Elliot then goes into uber-command mode and issues orders left and rightI probably showing Rankin that he can cut the mustard as a commander while Rankin probably thinks that Elliot will likely fall flat on his face.

The upshot of the resulting human versus alien melee is the death and wounding of several crew members. Enter ‘I Told You So’ Rankin who smugly suggests “suppose we try it my way now, Vince.” Just to rub Elliot’s failure in further, he declares that “now on, I'm in command.” What a dick! It is now all down to business with firing at will and doubling of guards. None of this touchy-feeling lefty mamby pamby progressive nonsense. It’s time to zap the crap outa stuff!

Rankin is now on a roll and for good measure heads off down to the infirmary to throw Elliots shortcomings into his face once more as he’s being treated for a wound he received during the struggle to capture the alien. First up, he informs Elliot that he will hang around until they find out what they are up against. Rankin, in response to Elliot’s little bitch whining about screwing up, agrees that he had in fact screwed up and that he makes too many mistakes and that he’s “not right for command.” But isn’t that what command sometimes involves, the possibility of making the wrong decisions which seem perfectly reasonable at the time. As Lisa points out, “this is the first time anything living has been found anywhere in space.”

Nothing however is perfectly black and white as Rankin retorts with “tell that to the wives of the men in the morgue.” Unfortunately, Rankin seems to be unable to acknowledge or appreciate his own share of responsibility for what has occurred, nor does he seem to understand that scientific discoveries and advancements in our knowledge often come at the price of human lives.

“Commander Rankin and I've doped out a plan we hope will work.”

Word soon reaches Rankin and Elliot that Dr Halverson has “got something in the lab” that’s “very important.” It turns out that the fluid discovered earlier in the power room is in fact blood and that the cells it contains “duplicate faster than anything known to man.” As the implications of this “incredible” and “frightening” discovery are beginning to sink in, Halverson informs the others that he has a theory as to why the alien creature was in the transmission room ripping up wires and what it was after. By means of a simple experiment employing incremental increases of electrical charge, Halverson demonstrates that the creatures both feed on and discharge energy. In fact,“one cell, one microscopic speck left on a spacesuit….would absorb all the energy it could get.”

So Rankin, are you at least a little bit sorry that you kept on chewing out the good doctor for having the effrontery of even existing in your presence on the station? On your own orders “this stuff reproduced inside the decontamination chamber” and as the current was stepped up “it just grew.” It was the decontamination process that accelerated the creatures’ growth. If the creatures make it to the power room, (coz there’s power in the power room!) they could be all over the station in no time. However, no matter what precautions are taken, weapons cannot be used against the creatures because as Halverson explains in the midst of battle in the infirmary, “blood cells of this creature is like a seed. It can spawn new creatures from its own blood.” Also as the beleaguered crew soon discover, the creatures are able to heal themselves. How does one kill such a dangerous life-form?

In short order a couple or crucial orders are issued. One from Elliot to have power in the infirmary cut off. Rankin gazes at Elliot in surprise for having made such a “smart move.” Why? Does Rankin think that only he himself can come up with such command decisions? The next order issued is to have the station placed in quarantine which causes General Thompson back at the United Nations Space Command to have a severe bout of dyspepsia and apoplexy.

A plan is soon placed before the rest of the station’s crew by Elliot. It involves getting everyone out of c-block and sealing it off. This will be followed by further confining the creatures “right down to the storage room.” Energy will be used to get them in there by cutting off power and lighting in c-block and then running a power beam search car down the corridor stopping at a room in which a portable generator will be set up. It is hoped that the light beam will lure them into the room “right to the generator.” By this means it is intended that the creatures will be contained in one area. So what could go wrong?

The plan is soon put into effect to lure the alien creatures away from the inhabited parts of the station. In the process, Halverson is caught behind a closing bulkhead door while foolishly dashing back to retrieve his scientific notes. On a monitor poor Halverson can be seen screaming in terror while being menaced by the creatures. True to form, Elliot wants to open the bulkhead door and attempt a rescue of the doctor. Equally true to form, Rankin opposes the idea of saving the life of one man if it means risking the whole station. Elliot ignores Rankin’s order and determinedly makes his way to the bulkhead door. Rankin orders him to “get away from that panel!” and aims a laser rifle at him while ominously telling Elliot, “that’s an order, Vince.” Elliot bravely stares him down and and calls his bluff by stating “it’s your move, commander.” Before Rankin can fire at Elliot, Lisa interposes herself between the gun and its intended target and opens the panel herself. Halverson, Rankin, Elliot and Lisa: Each makes a decision to act in a way that they believe is important to them. Who is to say who is right and who is wrong? We all have to live with the decisions we make and their consequences to ourselves and others.

 

“Situation here beyond control. Further efforts futile.”

Later on when a section of the station is on fire, Rankin in a 180 degree shift, decides to evacuate the station using the shuttles and informs Space Command to set up a quarantine facility for the station crew. Hadn’t Lisa previously suggested something like this earlier?

When Rankin orders the destruction of Gamma 3 by having the station burn up in Earth's atmosphere, Elliot challenges him declaring, “Now I’m going to tell you something for the last time. I’m in command of this station, and when my Chief gives me an order to destroy Gamma 3 I’ll take that order from him, but I won’t take it from you!” He then takes a swing at Rankin who being the action hero he is, skillfully blocks the blow and counter-punches Elliot. Rankin then orders security officers to escort Elliot to one of the evacuation ships adding that that if Elliot resists they should consider him under arrest. All this happening between two commanders in front of the station crew at a time of peril! Doesn’t exactly instill confidence!

Elliot not being one to take no for an answer, refuses to stay under arrest when it is discovered that the greenie meanies are crawling all over the station’s exterior and hampering the evacuation. The creatures had also been making use of the solar generators’ power circuits which necessitated their shutdown. Elliot quickly dons a space suit and takes charge of a n EVA mission to do battle with the critters and clear them away.

“You never could take orders.”

“Everybody's got his weakness, right?”

When the station is eventually evacuated there is the added problem of insufficient power for Space Command to remotely detonate the station. There remains nothing for it but for one heroic person to go back inside and do it manually. And that heroic person is n one other than Rankin. After his successful space battle, Elliot learns from Lisa that Rankin has gone alone on what amounts to a suicide mission. Not one to be outdone in the heroics department, Elliot grabs a laser rifle, gives his fiance some meaningful looks for the last time, and sallies forth to join his rival in battle. Notice that Lisa doesn’t plead with him not to go as she had with Rankin. Rankin the egotistical so-and-so had left with the certain knowledge that Lisa still had feelings for him. Elliot left knowing this too, but what the hell, one may as well go out in style rather than show how beaten down he must have felt inside and thereby giving Rankin the final word in glory, courage, self-sacrifice, truth, justice and the American way!

As he’s dukin’ it out with a group of alien beasties, Rankin’s laser rifle runs out of zapperoonie and just when he’s about to become a legendary posthumous hero, Elliot in the nick of time charges in to try and save the day. But alas, it is Elliot who goes down fighting and consequently becomes the hero who does indeed save the day.

 

“I recommend the highest citation for commander

Elliott.....posthumously.”

After Rankin returns to the evacuation ship, the Gamma 3 station along with the alien creatures burns up in Earth’s atmosphere. Rankin radios Space Command and requests the highest commendation be given to Vince Elliot, “posthumously.” Well, Elliot is now out of the way as a rival for Lisa’s affections and has his fiance. Thumbs up buddy! How’s that for one-upmanship! Bastard….

 

Points of Interest

 

Image generated by Chatgpt The Green Slime was shot in Japan with a Japanese director and film crew, but with a non-Japanese cast. The film certainly reflects the rollicking style of Japanese sci-fi films of the time such as Rodan (1956), Battle In Outer Space (1959) and Atragon (1963).

More specifically, The Green Slime was a co-production between Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Ram Films, and Toei. MGM provided the funding and script while Toei provided the film crew and location to shoot the film.

The Green Slime was made as an unofficial fifth entry in the TV film series involving the adventures of a space station called Gamma One by Italian director Antonio Margheriti. The only connection the film had to Margheriti's films is the space station, Gamma Three, which had a similar design as Gamma One in Margheriti's films.

The Japanese release version of the film omits the complicating Lisa-Vince-and-Rankin love triangle subplot to make the film faster paced, while adding a deathbed scene for Elliot. The Japanese version runs for 77 minutes while the MGM US released version runs for 90-minutes.

The notion of a green slime menace would have been better to have been persisted with and developed instead of the resulting green tentacled alien monsters which come off as being childish and disappointing. The film is at least saved by its fast pacing, energy and the rollicking sense of fun and adventure.

At least the film lives on in the form of the annual ‘Green Slime Award’ given out for each year's worst in science fiction at Bubonicon. I guess it’s better to be known for something than not known at all!

 

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Useful Resources

 

Books (Print & eBooks)

Baxter, John. Science Fiction in the Cinema. London: Zwemmer, 1970. A highly readable overview of the genre’s development, useful for understanding the broader context behind all films in this volume.

Halliwell, Leslie. Halliwell’s Film Guide. London: HarperCollins (various editions). A dependable reference for quick, often witty assessments of each film.

Hardy, Phil (ed.). The Aurum Film Encyclopedia: Science Fiction. London: Aurum Press, 1984.

An A–Z guide covering many of the featured titles, with concise entries and production details.

Muir, John Kenneth. Horror Films of the 1960s. Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 2001. Particularly relevant for Island of Terror and Night of the Big Heat, placing them within the decade’s horror boom.

Newman, Kim. Nightmare Movies: Horror on Screen Since the 1960s. London: Bloomsbury, 2011.

An engaging and accessible study of horror cinema that overlaps with several sci-fi entries in this collection.

Warren, Bill. Keep Watching the Skies! American Science Fiction Movies of the Fifties. Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 2009.

Provides useful background to the trends and themes that shaped 1960s sci-fi cinema.

Online Resources

IMDb (Internet Movie Database)

https://www.imdb.com

Comprehensive listings, cast details, trivia, and user reviews for all films featured in this volume.

AllMovie

https://www.allmovie.com

Clear, concise summaries and critical commentary ideal for general readers.

British Film Institute (BFI Screenonline & BFI Player) https://www.bfi.org.uk

Valuable for British productions, offering essays and archival insights.

Toho Kingdom

http://www.tohokingdom.com

A rich resource for Japanese genre cinema, especially useful for Matango and The Green Slime.

Turner Classic Movies (TCM)

https://www.tcm.com

Articles and historical context for classic films.

YouTube

https://www.youtube.com

Trailers, clips, and retrospectives that bring these films vividly to life.

Film-Specific

Useful resources for each featured film:

1. The Day of the Triffids (1962)

British Film Institute – Background essays and production context. AllMovie – Accessible plot and thematic overview. Hardy, Phil (ed.). – For quick reference and production details.

2. Matango: Attack of the Mushroom People (1963/1965)

Toho Kingdom – Detailed analysis, stills, and production history.

IMDb – Cast, trivia, and alternate release information. Newman, Kim. – Context within horror and psychological sci-fi.

3. Night Caller from Outer Space (1965)

IMDb – Essential viewing notes and cast details. AllMovie – Clear synopsis and genre framing.

Halliwell, Leslie. – Brief but useful critical perspective.

4. Island of Terror (1966)

British Film Institute – Insight into British sci-fi horror production. YouTube – Trailers and clips showcasing the “silicate” creatures. Muir, John Kenneth. – In-depth discussion within 1960s horror cinema.

5. Night of the Big Heat (1967/1968)

British Film Institute – Contextual essays and historical notes. IMDb – Cast and production information.

Muir, John Kenneth. – Analysis of its place in 60s genre filmmaking.

6. The Green Slime (1968)

Toho Kingdom – Production background and creature design details. YouTube – Famous theme song and trailers.

Hardy, Phil (ed.). – Reference entry and production notes.

Useful Magazines & Periodicals

Fangoria

Features retrospectives and articles on classic horror and sci-fi films.

Starburst

Accessible coverage of cult science fiction cinema, often revisiting films from this era.